The Golden Temple, Amritsar The Golden Temple, Amritsar The Golden Temple ( Enlarge ) The Golden Temple, located in the city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab,is a place of great beauty and sublime peacefulness. Originally a small lake in the midst of a quiet forest, the site has been a meditation retreat for wandering mendicants and sages since deep antiquity. The Buddha is known to have spent time at this place in contemplation. Two thousand years after Buddha's time, another philosopher-saint came to live and meditate by the peaceful lake. This was Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of the Sikh religion. After the passing away of Guru Nanak, his disciples continued to frequent the site; over the centuries it became the primary sacred shrine of the Sikhs. The lake was enlarged and structurally contained during the leadership of the fourth Sikh Guru (Ram Dass, 1574-1581), and during the leadership of the fifth Guru (Arjan, 1581-1606), the Hari Mandir, or Temple of God was built.

From the early 1600s to the mid 1700s the sixth through tenth Sikh Gurus were constantly involved in defending both their religion and their temple against Muslim armies. On numerous occasions the temple was destroyed by the Muslims, and each time was rebuilt more beautifully by the Sikhs. From 1767 onwards, the Sikhs became strong enough militarily to repulse invaders. Peace returned to the Hari Mandir. Hari Mandir, Amritsar, India ( Enlarge ) The temple's architecture draws on both Hindu and Muslim artistic styles yet represents a unique coevolution of the two. During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), Hari Mandir was richly ornamented with marble sculptures, golden gilding, and large quantities of precious stones. Within the sanctuary, on a jewel-studded platform, lies the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs. This scripture is a collection of devotional poems, prayers, and hymns composed by the ten Sikh gurus and various Muslim and Hindu saints.

Beginning early in the morning and lasting until long past sunset, these hymns are chanted to the exquisite accompaniment of flutes, drums, and stringed instruments. Echoing across the serene lake, this enchantingly beautiful music induces a delicate yet powerful state of trance in the pilgrims strolling leisurely around the marble concourse encircling the pool and temple. An underground spring feeds the sacred lake, and throughout the day and night pilgrims immerse themselves in the water, a symbolic cleansing of the soul rather than an actual bathing of the body. Next to the temple complex are enormous pilgrims' dormitories and dining halls where all persons, irrespective of race, religion, or gender, are lodged and fed for free. Amritsar, the original name of first the ancient lake, then the temple complex, and still later the surrounding city, means "pool of ambrosial nectar." Looking deeply into the origins of this word amrit, we find that it indicates a drink of the gods, a rare and magical substance that catalyzes euphoric states of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment. With this word we have a very clear example of the spirit, power, or energetic character of a particular place becoming encoded as an ancient geographical place name.

The myth is not just a fairy tale. It reveals itself as a coded metaphor if we have the knowledge to read the code: The waters of Amritsar flowing into the lake of the Hari Mandir were long ago - and remain today - a bringer of peacefulness. Sikh pilgrims at the Golden Temple, Amritsar, India ( Enlarge ) Golden Temple Aerial View by Helicopter Photograph by Grenade Singh The Golden Temple Ads Disclosure The Golden Temple The most sacred place in Sikhism in the Golden Temple at Amritsar in the Punjab region of northern India. It is one of the most beautiful sacred spaces in the world and people visit it from all over the world. The Golden Temple is the name popularly used for the temple; however, Sikhs call it the "Harmindir Sahib" or the "Darbar Sahib" which means "temple of God" or "court of God" respectively. It was constructed in the 16th century during the leadership of the 5th guru - Guru Arjan. Unlike many temples, the central activity inside this temple is not sacrifice or any kind of ritual toward God.

Instead, the central focus is on the reading of the Adi Granth, the Sikh sacred text - which is the central focus in any Sikh community center or gurdwara anywhere in the world. Also, unlike many Hindu temples built during the same period, this Sikh temple is located on relatively low ground (as opposed to a hilltop) and is open on all four sides (as opposed to only having one entrance). The Sikh tradition holds that the four openings symbolize the four traditional castes in India, and that all people are welcome. Sikhism rejects any kind of discrimination based on caste, gender or position in society. To enter the temple, men and women both must cover their heads with a turban or scarf, and they must remove their shoes. The most infamous event in modern times involving this Sikh temple occurred in 1984 when India's Prime Minister ordered an attack on the temple after it had been taken over by militant separatists who called for an independent Sikh homeland. Later that year she was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards. Do You Have Pictures to Share of Sacred Spaces?

Amritsar Religions - Religion of Amritsar India - Religions in Amritsar The Golden Temple The Harmandir Sahib, famous in the world as the Golden Temple, is Sikhism’s holiest shrine, visited by millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. The temple's architecture is beautiful beyond imagination and the serene sarovar that surrounds the temple, the holy lake that is believed ... Religious Cultural Durgiana Temple An important Hindu temple situated in the city of Amritsar, Durgiana Temple is devoted to Goddess Durga. It is also known as the Lakshmi Narayan Temple and was built during the 16th century. Similar to the sarovar in Golden Temple, there is also a water tank or lake surrounding the ... Religious Cultural Mandir Mata Lal Mata Lal Devi temple was built on the lines of the sacred Vaishnodevi temple in Jammu. The temple is the shrine of 20th century female saint Mata Lal Devi Ji popularly known as ‘Pujya Mata Ji’. The temple houses many statues of gods and goddesses with the sacred seat of ...

Religious Gurdwara Bibeksar Sahib The sacred Gurdwara Bibeksar Sahib marks the place where Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji used to tie his horse to the Kareer tree. The gurdwara is situated on the banks of Bibeksar Sarovar which was dug by Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji himself. The gurdwara was constructed by the famous ... Religious Monument ISKCON Amritsar Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda Temple At a walking distance form the world famous Golden Temple, the ISKCON Amritsar Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda Temple is one of the prime attractions of Amritsar. The temple was founded by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). The temple houses the idols of many Hindu gods and goddesses with ... Religious Monument Gurudwara Ramsar Sahib Elegantly standing alongside the Ramsar sarovar, the Gurudwara Ramsar Sahib is located near the Chativind Gate. Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, chose the site of Gurudwara Ramsar Sahib as the spot where Guru Granth Sahib would take form.

Naturally, this gurudwara is of special significance to the ... Religious Monument Dukh Bhanjani Ber Tree Holding a spiritual importance in the lives of the devotees, the Dukh Bhanjani Ber Tree (a jujube tree) is one of the most visited and talked about scared places in Amritsar. Located in the Golden Temple Complex, the Dukh Bhanjani Ber Tree stands on the eastern side of the Amrit ... Religious Gurudwara Guru Ka Mahal Gurudwara Guru Ka Mahal was established in 1573 by Guru Ram Das as his residence. This gurudwara is very sacred to the Sikh people as many of the 10 Sikh gurus are associated with the gurudwara. This is the birthplace of Baba Atal Rai and Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. ... Religious Gurudwara Saragrahi Sahib Gurudwara Saragrahi Sahib stands as a testimony to the bravery of the Sikh soldiers in the battle of Saragrahi.

Often known as the Saragrahi memorial, the gurudwara was built to pay homage to those Sikh soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the fight against Pathans. On all sides, the gurudwara ... Religious Akal Takht Akal Takht serves as one of the five seats of Sikh religious authority. Akal which means the ‘Timeless One’ while Takht means ‘the throne’. Translated, Akal Takht means the ‘Throne of the Immortal’. It is also the central altar for the Sikh political assembly. Shri Guru Hargobind Singh laid the ... Religious Monument Gurudwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib Gurudwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib commemorates the memory of Bir Baba Budha Sahib who was a venerable Sikh during the time of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Legends have it that Bab Budha was so impressed with the hospitality and Guru Arjan Dev and his wife Mata Ganga that he ... Religious Sri Ram Tirath Temple Sri Ram Tirath Temple is dedicated to the Hindi god – Lord Rama. The temple complex contains a hut and a tank.

The temple is believed to be at the place where sage Valmiki had his ashram. According to Hindu mythology, Valmiki gave shelter to Goddess Sita in his ... Religious Santokhsar Sahib Santokhsar Sahib is one of the five holy sarovars that was constructed by Guru Arjan Dev. Guru Mar Das started the excavation for the sarovar and it was completed by Guru Arjan Dev. The story behind the name of the sarovar states that Guru Amar Das found a saint ... Religious Tarn Taran Sahib One of the most sacred places for the Sikh community, Tarn Taran Sahib is a city founded by the fifth Sikh guru, Shri Guru Arjan Dev. Historically and religiously important gurudwaras like Darbar Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Gurudwara Guru Ka Khuh are located ... Religious Gurudwara Mata Kaulan Gurudwara Mata Kaulan is located on the west side of the Gurudwara Baba Atal. It is a sacred Sikh shrine honouring the lady saint Mata Kaulan. It is believed that Mata Kaulan left her family to pursue the path of religious piety.

She took refuge with Shri Guru Hargobind Singh ... Religious Gurudwara Pipli Sahib Located about 1.5 kilometres west of Amritsar railway station, Gurudwara Pipli Sahib was built to commemorate the memory of Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The gurudwara got its name from the old Peepal tree that once stood at the site of the gurudwara. ... Religious Gurudwara Baba Atal Rai Situated on the south of the Golden Temple, Gurudwara Baba Atal Rai is one of the tallest structures in Amritsar. The gurudwara is a nine storeyed octagonal tower. It is a cenotaph that enshrines the remains of Baba Atal Rai, the son of Shi Hargobing Singh Ji. According to legend, ... Religious GOLDEN TEMPLE IN AMRITSAR - SIKHISM'S MOST SACRED SHRINE - NYTimes.com GOLDEN TEMPLE IN AMRITSAR: SIKHISM'S MOST SACRED SHRINE By DOUGLAS C.

McGILL Published: June 4, 1984 Throughout the 22 months of curfews, riots and terrorist attacks in the recent Sikh drive for greater autonomy, the Indian Government has never taken one step that some think would be appropriate: to storm the Golden Temple in Amritsar and flush out the militant Sikhs who are hiding there. The Golden Temple is the Sikh religion's most historic and sacred place. It is believed that an attack on the temple would be likely to antagonize even moderate Sikhs, perhaps swaying them to side with violent factions. On Saturday, as part of its most severe crackdown on Sikh extremists, the Indian Government cordoned off the temple, causing some observers to suggest that a raid might be imminent. An elaborate cluster of white towers topped by a gold-plated dome, the temple is set in the middle of a manmade lake and is accessible only by a marble causeway. It is at the heart of the city of Amritsar, 240 miles north of New Delhi, on the Pakistan border.

The city is a center of industry and trade, and is often remembered for the Amritsar massacre on April 13, 1919,, in which troops under British control fired on an unarmed assemblage of Indian nationalists, followers of Mohandas K. Gandhi, killing hundreds and wounding thousands. The city was founded in 1577 by Ram Das, the fourth guru of Sikhism, on a site granted by Akbar, the great Mogul ruler of India. The fifth guru, Arjun Dev, completed Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), gold foil was put on the copper dome. The temple today is partly a place of worship, partly a museum, and partly a hideout for militant Sikh leaders and activists. Inside the temple, priests read from the Sikh holy book, the Granth Sahib, accompanied by music. Food - prasad, a kind of thick porridge - is offered by and to pilgrims, following the Sikh tradition of providing food to anyone who seeks it.

In the temple museum, bloody visions of Sikh martyrdom set the tone: a painting of a Sikh martyr being killed by Moguls, a depiction of avenging Sikhs, victorious in battle, and, ranged in gruesome rows, photographs of men killed in the uprising. Posted prominently above a display of curved Sikh swords are the words of one of Sikhism's most admired gurus, Govind Singh: ''We worship the weapons, finding in these the image of God.'' Among the many Sikh political leaders who live at the temple are both those who are relatively peaceful, and those who are openly committed to violence. An example of the former is Harchand Singh Longowal, who has led much of the nonviolent agitation. Also said to be living at the Golden Temple is Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Sikhs' most powerful religious leader and a devoted militant. Last December, opposition leaders in the Indian Parliament demanded Mr.

Bhindranwale's arrest because of his statement that he would ''slaughter all Hindus in the Punjab.'' Amritsar - Information About Wagha Border And Golden Temple Tours Amritsar Amritsar is dominated by the history of Hindus and Sikhs; many of their sacred shrines are found in and around the city. It is home to the Harmandir Sahib, known as the Golden Temple, the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion. The temple is surrounded by a large lake, known as the Sarovar, which consists of Amrit ("holy water" or "immortal nectar"). There are four entrances to the temple, signifying the importance of acceptance and openness. Inside the temple complex there are many shrines to past Sikh gurus, saints and martyrs. There are three holy trees, each signifying a historical event or Sikh saint. Inside the temple there are memorial plaques that commemorate past Sikh historical events, saints, martyrs and include commemorative inscriptions of all the Sikh soldiers who died fighting in World Wars I and II. Much of the present decorative gilding and marble work dates from the early 19th century.

The gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib was begun by Emperor Ranjit Singh and was finished in 1830. India's Golden Temple in Amritsar: an incredible sacred place that never sleeps | Simply Nomadic Life India’s Golden Temple in Amritsar: an incredible sacred place that never sleeps February 15, 2016 The Golden Temple in Amritsar. Incredible place, incredible people, incredible experience. And that’s why we consider it to be the best place to visit in India. We travelled in India 2 months and although we didn’t go everywhere, the impressive Golden Temple in Amritsar was definitely a place that stood out, left us with unforgettable memories and now holds a very special place in our hearts. Sprawling and hectic Amritsar, Sikhs’ holiest city in the world, is situated in the north west of India in Punjab, close to the border with Pakistan. The city was founded in 1577 by Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru, by a bathing pool with healing power.

The Golden Temple in Amritsar, an absolutely unique holy place that never sleeps Amritsar is home to Sikhism’s most important shrine; the glamorous Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib or Harmandir Sahib) stands in the hearth of the old town as a part of a complex that has traditionally been the seat of the Sikh religious authority. The Golden Temple is a holy place for both the Sikhs and Hindu. The Golden Temple is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Before we dive into the charming atmosphere of the temple complex, let us tell you some basic facts about the Sikhs. There are 27 million Sikhs in the world; the majority live in the Indian state of Punjab and a few million of the Sikhs live in Asia, the UK, the USA and Canada. Sikhism is an independent religion, the 5th biggest religion in the world. The Sikh men wear beards and colourful turbans covering their hair that they never cut. For a Sikh, wearing a turban asserts a public commitment to maintain the values and ethics of the tradition, including service, equality, compassion and honesty. Sikh women wear either a turban or cover their head with a scarf.

The Golden Temple itself is a blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, with an elegant lower level made of marble, adorned with flower and animal motifs. A second level of gold panels is topped by a dome gilded with 750kg of gold. In the shining inner sanctum, priests and musicians keep up a continuous chant from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, adding to the already intense atmosphere. Staying at Amritsar’s Golden Temple in Sri Guru Ramdas Ji Niwas We were heading to Amritsar from Dharamsala by train. There we met a Sikh man who started talking to us and later advised us to go to a place where we could stay for a donation when he found out that we hadn’t booked our accommodation in the town. (That’s what we never do.) We got off the train, took a rickshaw and went to look for the place. It was quite late in the night, about 10 pm, late to be out in India. But we felt safe in the Sikhs’ city. The place was very close to the Golden Temple; it was an old big 4 storey palace with a huge courtyard.

After we went through the tall gate and a narrow dark alley, we could see that all the incredibly large floor of the courtyard was fully covered by Indian pilgrims! We were standing there in the dark night, tired, and our only though was that the man in the train made a silly joke of us. But then suddenly a door on the left opened, a smily face under a yellow turban appeared and the Sikh man said only one word: “Room?” And showed us a part of the building where foreign visitors were accommodated. We saw about 15 foreigners sleeping in a dormitory, and there were also four separate rooms. Some Spanish travellers were just about to leave one of the rooms, heading to the train station to catch the night train to Rishikesh, so we even got a room just for ourselves. The Sikh guards of the palace didn’t speak English but showed us one bathroom inside and other bathrooms and toilets that we were supposed to share with the Indian pilgrims. The building was old but the bathroom and toilets were in an excellent condition, brand new; the moment we entered there we felt like being at the airport! So big, nice and clean the bathrooms were in comparison to the old building!

The next morning we got up and saw the Indian pilgrims sitting in the courtyard and talking. We went to explore the huge palace and found out that all the rooms on all of the four floors were full of people too! Everybody was so friendly, even willing and happy to pose for photography. At this place, set just by the Golden Temple, anybody – both the Indians and foreigners – can stay for free or a donation for how long they want. We heard the music and chanting coming from the Golden Temple and couldn’t wait to see it! We had to leave our shoes in a special place before entering the complex and cover our heads with scarves. Then we walked towards the holy place, washed our feet in water and finally stepped on the sacred ground. The first view of the majestic temple sitting on the clear water left us speechless. Hundreds of pilgrims were walking around the pond or sitting in the shadow of a colonnade, meditating and praying. Some of the men were just having a holy dip in the sacred lake. We were walking slowly around the holy lake and enjoyed the peace and quiet melody of live chanting coming from the Golden Temple.

When we stepped into the Golden Temple, we found the shining interior with priests chanting very spiritual, charming and truly exceptional. We could have stayed in the temple for hours, listening to the songs and watching the priests singing and reading texts from the holy book. Witnessing the elections at the Golden Temple One afternoon we witnessed the elections of a new head of the Golden Temple. That day it was the day when everybody in India was celebrating Diwali, a famous Indian (Hindu) festival of lights. There was going to be a Diwali celebration held at the Golden temple too, but it was cancelled at the last moment, which nobody had told us about. That afternoon we arrived to the Golden temple expecting to see hundreds of lit candles set around the holy lake, and fireworks. Instead of all of this, we saw tens of Sikhs gathered by one of the palaces of the temple complex under a balcony. When we got there, an apparently important speech had been going on for a while. About 15 minutes later, all the Sikhs suddenly stood up and started shouting. It all looked quite dramatic and we thought it was a kind of small revolution. We had no idea what was happening.

We stayed there in the middle of the crowd for a while, until one Sikh told us that it would be better for us to leave. We walked the stairs up to the third floor from where we watched the chaos which looked never-ending. Just a while later, we returned to the opposite part of the temple complex where everything was peaceful as usual. It was extremely hard to find a local who spoke English good enough to explain us the situation and it took us two days to find out what was going on under the balcony at the Golden Temple that day of Diwali. We were told that what was actually happening there were elections of the new head of the Golden Temple and those protesting Sikhs were the opposition that had just lost. The Diwali celebrations were cancelled because an unknown person destroyed the Sikhs’ holy book some time before the date of Diwali. As Diwali is mainly a Hindu festival, the Sikhs decided not to hold the celebrations in the temple this year. People at the Golden Temple As you already know, the Sikhs wear beards and colourful turbans. Traditionally, turbans are worn by both men and women, but at the Golden temple we saw only two women wearing turbans.

Other women wore Indian clothes and beautiful transparent veils over their heads. We had never seen the clothes that some of the men were wearing, mainly the unusual “hats”. The Sikhs who wear those big hats are called “baba” and they are considered to be very wise spiritual teachers. Another group of the Sikhs were those who wore blue clothes, and held a spear and a sword (or an ax); they are called spiritual soldiers. Most of them live at the complex of the Golden Temple and devote their lives to the Sikh religion. 5 Facts About The Golden Temple Most People Don't Know | SikhNet 5 Facts About The Golden Temple Most People Don't Know Travelers to the Golden Temple are astounded by what they find there. 1. The Foundation Of The Golden Temple Was Laid Down By A Muslim Saint source: wikimedia.org Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru in 1588 planned to build a temple in the centre in Amritsar which would be open to people of all castes, and climes; thus he invited his friend and great contemporary mystic and Muslim savant, Mir Mohammed Muayyinul Islam, popularly known as Mian Mir, to lay the foundation stone of the temple.

The tension between Hindus and Muslims in the 16th century was evident and the Sikh prophets desired to level down these barriers with a view to discover and provide a common spiritual ground for the two, Hinduism and Islam, thus was born the idea of Golden temple. HolidayIQ Traveller Mukul Arora from Chennai shares, “There is no words to describe the Golden Temple. One of the best holiest place I have ever seen, what a internal peace I got when I entered Golden Temple. One should feel blessed after visiting this place and I met lot of people and families who came frequently to Golden Temple from across country. Outside the temple there is a good market one should definitely visit this place.” 2. The Temple Is Made Of Marble But Plated With Real Gold source: wikimedia.org The gurudwara is constructed with white marble overlaid with genuine gold leaf. In the early 19th century, 100kg of gold were applied to the inverted lotus-shaped dome and decorative marble was added to the structure. HolidayIQ Traveller Sukhvinder Kaur from New Delhi shares, “This is the most important temple for Sikhs but is visited by one and all, from far and wide.

Anybody going to Amritsar cannot avoid visiting this most serene temple. Since cleanliness is maintained by volunteers, it remains neat and tidy. Free food & water is available round the clock. The katha and kirtan at the temple is melodious. There is a big sarovar, surrounding the temple, which keeps the area cool. The temple has gold work done on major part of it including the dome. The carving work done on the walls is amazing. It is said that by taking a bath in the sarovar, one gets cured of the diseases. Its all a matter of faith. For peace of mind, this is the place.” 3. The Pool Surrounding The Golden Temple Is Known As Amrit Sarovar source: wikimedia.org The water surrounding the temple is a sacred pool known as the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar). The devotees who visit these shrines will bathe in these pools as Sikhs believe that spiritual and worldly benefits are gained by immersing in the holy waters of these sarovars. Legend has it that a dip in the holy water of the Sarovar surrounding the temple can cure people of many ailments.

It is said that once a leper took a dip in the holy water and got cured of his leprosy. HolidayIQ Traveller Dainell Wood shares, “Absolutely majestic, will come here again & again. The place is so spiritual, so pure, so holy and so clean. When I was inside its premises, the rest of the world seemed unimportant to me, my world was confined to this sacred place. I did not want to get out of it. The pool that's just wonderful, the moment I stepped into it, I felt like all my sins were washed off. I was as clean as I was born. Really, a must visit for everyone.” 4. Around One Lakh People Are Fed For Free Everyday At The Golden Temple Langar source: flickr - BOMBMAN The largest langar of all gurudwaras is organised everyday at the Golden Temple, where around 100,000 people a day are fed for free by temple volunteers, but the number double during special occasions.

Around 12,000 kg of floor, 1,500 kg of rice, 13,000 kg of lentils and upto 2,000 kg of vegetables are consumed everyday. The langar caters to people of all castes and creeds. HolidayIQ Traveller Ari Daman Paul Garg from Ghaziabad shares, “Visited twice, first in the evening then in the morning; in the evening had Langar with hundreds of devotees/visitors. Very good, fresh and hot food, excellent Kheer, unique way of serving drinking water. Exemplary team work in preparing and serving the food, then cleaning and keeping the utensils. Before Darshan of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib one has stand in a queue for about an hour. Everything was systematic and neat and clean.” 5. At The Langar, All Diners Have To Sit On The Floor source: flickr - Haresh Patel All the diners have to sit on the floor, irrespective of caste, status or creed, symbolising the central Sikh doctrine of equality of all people.

According to legend, around 500 years ago, Guru Nanak introduced the idea of langar where everyone regardless of religion or social status, could sit on the ground together as equals and eat the same food. The philosophy behind this free meal was a radical departure from the prevailing norms, where caste hierarchies decided what you ate and with whom you ate it. HolidayIQ Traveller Manpreet Singh from Raikot shares, “Very attractive place to visit. Religious and historical place. Golden temple is known as hub of Sikhism. Everyone got peace of mind here and free food from langar hall. Free rooms for tourists made by SGPC Holy place looks very attractive and clean. Place is well disciplined all religion come here to visit.” The views above are collated from opinions expressed by travellers on Categories: In Brief: The Golden Temple - The Review of Religions In Brief: The Golden Temple Fauzia Bajwa – Canada The Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib and God’s Temple, is located in the northern Punjab city of Amritsar, India. It is an important place of worship and pilgrimage for members of the Sikh faith.

It remains open to visitors and pilgrims alike 24 hours a day, all year round. The temple houses the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib. History and Significance Guru Baba Nanak (1469-1539), founder of Sikhism, used to retreat to the Amritsar area for prayers and meditation. He sought the peace and seclusion of the small forest lake here. After his demise his disciples continued to frequent the site and over time it became an important shrine. The fourth Guru, Sri Ram Das Ji, purchased the surrounding lands, and in 1577 he began work on the construction of a personal residence and a man-made lake, the Amrit Sarovar, on which the Golden Temple sits. The town flourished and in January 1588 a Muslim saint, Sain Mian Mir, laid the foundation stone of the Golden Temple. The fifth master of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, initiated its construction that took thirteen years. Originally it was a mud structure.

In 1803 Amritsar was included in the dominion of the Sikh king, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and under his rule the temple was redesigned and rebuilt giving it its present day look. It was made into an intricate marble structure with a gilt roof and upper storey. Architecture The Golden Temple is named so because of its gilt roof and upper storey. What is striking about the architecture is the way it appears to sit on a pool of water; the entire building, including its gold shimmering roof, is reflected in the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar). An underground spring feeds this man-made lake and pilgrims immerse themselves in the pool as a symbolic cleansing of the soul. The Pool of Nectar is in turn surrounded by a number of majestic domed-roof buildings which form part of the temple complex. The temple is a two storey square marble structure. The upper walls and the roof are covered with gold-leafed copper sheets. The roof is domed with minarets in all four corners – a Muslim influence. The four doors of the temple symbolise its openness to people from all corners of the earth: north, south, east and west.

To enter the sanctuary one has to walk through the arched Darshani Darwaza onto a walkway over the Pool of Nectar. The other end of the walkway ends at the north door of the temple. The temple houses the Adi Granth (the first book), which is a compilation of Sikh scriptures in the Gurmukhi script (Gurmukhi is an archaic version of the Punjabi language). The Adi Granth is also known as the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. On its 1430 pages are various devotional hymns describing God’s attributes. In October 1708 Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh master, declared the text to be his successor thereby terminating the human line of Sikh Gurus and investing the text as the eleventh and final Guru. In fact, the Guru Granth Sahib is considered a ‘juristic person’ by the Supreme Court of India. Sikhs believe that it contains guidance on all moral and religious questions for all times to come. The Guru Granth Sahib is placed on the ground floor of the temple underneath a jewel-studded canopy.

The upper storey of the temple has a mirrored ceiling and mirrored walls and a square opening in the floor that looks down onto the lower level. Outer Buildings and Activities The Nectar Pool is surrounded by a number of edifices one of which is a community kitchen (langar). The langar is a tradition started by Guru Nanak himself and one which continues today. Food is served there free of charge, 24 hours a day to anyone who requests it. Niwas, or inns take up a significant portion of the complex. These are lodgings; some free of charge, others levy a fee for people requiring temporary accommodation. A Sikh museum and Sikh library form part of the compound. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is recited at a minimum of 35 different places in the complex. Each reading takes 48 hours and is carried out by a number of people in a series of shifts. At night the Guru Granth Sahib is housed in the Akal Takht (Divine Throne) that is directly opposite the main gate to the temple. The Akal Takht is also traditionally the place for assembly and from where edicts and guidance are issued.

Amritsar | The Story of India - Photo Gallery | PBS The Story of India The view from the east of the Golden Temple, or Harmandir, in the city of Amritsar. Explore the Topic Click for detailed map Sikhism's holiest place of worship is the Golden Temple , or Harmandir, in the city of Amritsar. Located in the state of Punjab, the city, established to be a place of pilgrimage , derives its name from the sacred tank, or pool, called the Amrita Saras (pool of nectar), where the temple was built. Guru Ram Das, the fourth of the ten Sikh Gurus (spiritual guides), oversaw the construction of the tank and the settlement that grew around it, which was completed in 1577. His successor, Guru Arjan, the fifth Guru, erected a modest temple on an island in the center of the tank along with the causeway used to reach it and installed the Sikh holy book, the "Adi Granth," in the shrine in 1604. The Adi Granth is displayed in the Golden Temple each day, and then transported back to the Akal Takht each evening.

The temple was destroyed several times by Afghan invaders, but reconstructed in the 1760s. Its present appearance is due in large part to the patronage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh ruler of Punjab in the early part of the 19th century, who financed the gilding and other enhancements. Since then, the building has come to be familiarly known as the Golden Temple. Amritsar was also the location of the 1919 Amritsar Massacre during the struggle for independence . You need Flash Player version 9.0.115 or greater to view this video. Video: The founding of Sikhism and its continuing traditions Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that originated in India during the 15th century. Today, it has roughly 20 million adherents worldwide, the majority of whom live in the Punjab, in northwest India. It was founded by Guru Nanak, the first in a line of ten gurus (spiritual leaders) who developed and promulgated the faith.

In Punjabi, the word "Sikh" means "disciple" and the faithful are those who follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Gurus, which are set down in the holy book, the "Adi Granth." Sikhism synthesizes elements of both Islam and Hinduism into a distinct religious tradition. Like Islam, it emphasizes belief in only one God and similar to Hinduism, teaches that the karmic cycle of rebirths cannot be overcome unless you achieve oneness with God. For Sikhs, everyone is equal before God and a good life is achieved by remembering God at all times, being part of a community, serving others, living honestly, and rejecting blind rituals and superstitions. In the late 17th century the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, established a military brotherhood within Sikhism called the Khalsa (fraternity of the pure). Although not all Sikhs belong to the Khalsa, many obey its edict of wearing the five symbols of faith, the Five Ks: uncut hair (kesh), a wooden comb (kanga), a steel bracelet (kara), cotton undergarments (kachera), and a sword (kirpan).

The turban worn by Sikh men is the most visible manifestation of their adherence to these principles. Golden Temple The Golden Temple reflecting in the Amrita Saras "Golden Temple" is the name of Amritsar's hallowed Sikh shrine and the religious complex where it's located. The shimmering two-story temple sits atop a square platform in the center of a man-made tank, called the Amrita Saras (pool of nectar). The lower story's marble walls are decorated with inlaid flower and animal motifs, while the upper story's inner and outer walls and roof are sheathed in gold leaf. The roof includes four small kiosks at each corner and is crowned by a central dome shaped like an inverted lotus. The temple's gilding was completely replaced in 1999, but high pollution levels are continuing to erode the gilt. The temple is reached by passing through an archway on the complex's western side, the Darshani Deori, and crossing a nearly 200 foot walkway called the Guru's Bridge. The shrine has four entry points, which are placed at the same level on each side and signify the faith's openness to people of all religions.

The inner sanctum holds the Sikh holy book, the "Adi Granth," which contains 6,000 hymns and was compiled by Guru Arjan. The book is stored in the adjacent Akal Takht overnight and brought to the shrine early each morning; its hymns are recited continually throughout the day. Pilgrimage Hindu pilgrims in Ganges River at Varanasi Traveling to places of religious import, whether temples, shrines, or cities, is a familiar part of every major faith in India. Found throughout the country, these sacred locations draw pilgrims because they are thought to bestow special blessings or spiritual knowledge. Pilgrimage has been a long-standing tradition within Hinduism . Many of the sites that Hindus visit are temples devoted to the life of a particular deity. Other destinations are found near rivers, the most sacred of which is the Ganges , where the faithful go to perform religious rites and bathe in the waters in order to be absolved of sins. In Buddhism and Jainism , pilgrimage sites are connected to the life of the religion’s founders and the leaders and holy persons who followed and contributed to the faith's dissemination.

Buddhist shrines developed around relics of the Buddha's body and important events in his life. Bodhgaya, in Bihar, where the Buddha achieved enlightenment, and Sarnath , in Uttar Pradesh, are among the most famous centers of pilgrimage. For Jains, places where the faith's teachers (tirthankaras) achieved enlightenment, as well as locations that are home to famous temples or sculptures, are among the sites that draw pilgrims. The tombs of Sufi saints of the Chishti order, who thrived in India during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries CE, are the focus of Muslim pilgrimage in India and Pakistan. The shrine of one saint, Moinuddin Chishti, in Ajmer, Rajasthan, is especially venerated and attracts thousands of pilgrims during the Urs, the annual festival to mark the anniversary of his death. Even Hindus are known to worship there. Although pilgrimage is not a part of Sikhism , devotees do journey to its foremost place of worship, the Golden Temple in Amritsar , Punjab, as well as locations associated with the lives of its ten gurus (spiritual leaders).

Akal Takht Gold-domed Akal Takht The main seat of Sikhism 's religious authority, the Akal Takht (throne of the Timeless One) is located directly opposite the Golden Temple . The original structure, completed in 1609, was built by the sixth guru, Hargobind. The present-day structure, topped by a gilded dome, rises five stories and is inlaid with marble. The Akal Takht is also where the original "Adi Granth," the Sikh holy book, is stored each evening; it is transported to the Golden Temple every morning on a sumptuous palanquin. The building sustained heavy damage when the Indian Army raided the Golden Temple complex in June, 1984 during an uprising of a militant Sikh group pushing for independence for the Sikh Punjab.

The oldest and most important of the five Takhts, or seats of authority, it is from here that issues confronting the faith or community (panth) are discussed and resolved; standards of social conduct and personal behavior are formulated; justice is meted out for those charged with violations of religious discipline; and the hukamnamas (edicts or writs), which are binding for all Sikhs, are issued. Guru Hargobind is believed to have issued the first hukamnana announcing the creation of the Akal Takht.

Question: The Golden Temple at Amritsar is sacred to members of which religion?
Answer: SIKH(ISM)